Affordable biofuels take flight with airline pledge

Boeing, Airbus and Embraer have joined forces in a bid to accelerate the development and roll out of affordable aviation biofuels.

Signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva yesterday (March 22), the trio will collaborate lobby government, biofuel producers and other key stakeholders.

It is hoped this will drum up support and accelerate the availability of sustainable new jet fuel sources.

This is also in line with an overall industry target of achieving carbon-neutral growth beyond 202 and cutting industry emissions by 50% by 2050, against a 2005 baseline.

Boeing president and CEO Jim Albaugh, Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders, and Embraer commercial aviation president Paulo César Silva signed on behalf of each airline.

Mr Albaugh said: "Two of the biggest threats to our industry are the price of oil and the impact of commercial air travel on our environment. By working with Airbus and Embraer on sustainable biofuels, we can accelerate their availability and reduce our industry's impacts on the planet we share."

According to Mr Enders, the production and use of sustainable quantities of aviation biofuels is key to meeting industry's ambitious CO2 reduction targets. As a result, he said that Airbus is working to expand its network of worldwide value chains and support the EU commission towards its target of 4% of biofuel for aviation by 2020.

The MoU also supports an industry ambition to continuously reduce carbon emissions through continuous innovation, competitive market dynamics and air traffic modernisation.

ATAG executive director Paul Steele, said: "Having these three aviation leaders set aside their competitive differences and work together in support of biofuel development, underscores the importance and focus the industry is placing on sustainable practices."